Origin and History

The regiment was raised in 1721 at a strength of 30 men by Lieutenant-General von Wuthenow (died in office). It recruited mainly Uhlans. In 1722, the unit was increased by 2 companies. In 1730 it was increased to 3 squadrons. and command passed to major Johann von Brunikowski. Chef in 1732 was Prince Eugen von Anhalt-Dessau. In 1737 von Brunikowsi became Chef. The same year, 3 more squadrons were added, but in 1740, 3 of them were sent to Silesia to reinforce the Leibhusaren (Nr 2) and 2 more were used in 1740 to found the 3rd Hussars. The remaining squadron, under Major von Mackerodt, was again reinforced by 2 squadrons. In 1741, the 2 new squadrons went to form the 5th and 7th Hussars. Brunikowski, now a colonel, had kept back 10 men from each squadron that he had been ordered to send away. With these and new recruits, he raised a new regiment of 5 squadrons in Prussia in 1741. These he took to Silesia and increased to 10 squadrons.

The regiment was often referred to as die Grünen (the Greens).

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment took part to the capture of Neisse on October 31 1741. On May 17 1742, it was at the battle of Chotusitz. From September 10 to 16 1744, it covered the siege of Prague and took part in a skirmish near Neustadt. On March 1 1745, the regiment fought in the combat of Hirschberg where it took over 300 prisoners. On March 22, it was at the combat of Landshut and on June 4 at the battle of Hohenfriedberg.

By 1806, the regiment was known as the von Gettkandt Hussars. That same year, on October 14, it took part in the battle of Jena, suffering heavy losses. On November 1, the regiment surrendered at Anklam, a detachment surrendered at Ratkau. The regiment was not re-raised. Its depot went into the new 3rd Hussar Brigade, raised in Silesia.

Service during the War

On August 26 1756, when the Prussian Army proceeded to the invasion of Saxony, the regiment was part of the left column led by the Prince of Bevern. This column had concentrated in the area of Lübben, then advanced through Lusatia by Hoyerswerda and Bautzen, to Hohenstein (Sept. 8) then to Lohmen north of the Elbe near Pirna. On October 1, 8 of its squadrons took part in the battle of Lobositz where they stood on the right wing near the Homolka Berg, harassing the Austrians near Sullowitz. They then covered the second attack.

In mid April 1757, the regiment formed part of the army who proceeded to the invasion of Bohemia. On May 6, the regiment did not take part to the battle of Prague. It was rather deployed on the left bank of the Moldau near the Weissenberg as part of Field Marshal Keith's corps. On June 18, 5 squadrons of the regiment took part to the battle of Kolin. They were deployed in the cavalry vanguard at the extreme left under under General von Zieten. At the end of August, the regiment was part of the small Prussian army hastily assembled at Dresden by Frederick II to head towards Thuringia and to offer battle to the Franco-Imperial army invading Saxony. On September 14, when Frederick was forced to divide his army to contain the French in the region of Magdeburg and to secure the Prussian magazines in the area of Torgau, the regiment remained with Frederick at Erfurt to observe the Franco-Imperial army. On September 15, the regiment was part of Seydlitz's force which occupied Gotha. On September 19, they were temporarily chased from the town by a Franco-Imperial force but Seydlitz managed to recapture Gotha and to occupy it until September 22. On November 5, at the battle of Rossbach, 5 squadrons of the regiment were deployed as flank guard on the right wing while the 5 other squadrons were not deployed on the battlefield. In this battle, the regiment took 4 cannon and pursued the beaten enemy through Erfurt. On December 5 at the battle of Leuthen, its second battalion (5 squadrons) were deployed in the vanguard which attacked the Austrian left flank.

On February 28 1759, Major-General Knobloch sent the regiment forward from Erfurt under Friedrich Wilhelm Gottfried Arend von Kleist. From February 24 to March 4, about 250 men of the regiment were part of the small Prussian corps under the command of Major-General von Wobersnow who made an incursion in Poland against the Russian magazines. During this incursion, Wobersnow's forces destroyed food supplies which would have supplied 50,000 men for 3 months. On August 12, the regiment fought in the battle of Kunersdorf where it was deployed in the second line of the left wing as part of Spaen's brigade. It was among the last Prussian units to leave the battlefield.